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Show page 2 , Fall/Winter 2002 Strengthening Our Lead, Creating Future Leaders BY JESSICA DURFEE PHOTOS BY AMANDA WILSON AND VI RAPP Leadership Development on Campus According to the dictionary, "to lead" means to show the way, to control action, or to manage. But "to be a leader" is something much more complex. Likewise, leadership and having leadership skills involve being knowledgeable, ethical, dynamic, and sensitive. Can leaders be created or trained? Or are they born with inherent skills to motivate people for success? The following article discusses the opportunities for leadership development at the University of Utah for faculty, staff, and administrators, as well as students. Leading the Way: Faculty, Staff and Administrators Leading a college or university today is one of the most complex and challenging jobs in society. Colleges and universities are custodians of knowledge, and have the ability to influence decisions from the immediate community to national politics. Higher education institutions are the gateway to power, significantly affecting the quality of economic and social life throughout the world. Thus, as colleges and universities create and disseminate knowledge within a particular society, they have leadership responsibilities to maintain, not only for the well-being of higher education, but also for that society. Yet, how do faculty, staff and administrators develop the skills needed to step up to this challenge? Many professionals enter the academy without a sense of leadership expectations. Likewise, many academics aren't sure what they can do to develop and enhance their leadership skills on campus. Developing these skills may be a necessary component of one's career, or it may be for a sense of personal empowerment. In either case, the University of Utah offers an extensive variety of leadership education and training courses to facilitate and articulate the leadership potential of faculty, staff and administrators. The University's Center for Employee Development Students at the University of Utah United Leadership Conference participate in activities designed to foster leadership skills. |
